The University of Zululand (UNIZULU) through its Human Resources Division, recently hosted the Employee Disability Awareness Campaign at King Bhekuzulu Hall on the KwaDlangezwa Campus. The event aimed to encourage employees to disclose their disabilities to the University, as the current rate of disclosure remains low.
Held under the theme: “Disability Disclosure: Towards a More Inclusive and Empowered Workplace”, the event highlighted several key issues, including how to create safe spaces for disclosure, why many employees do not disclose their disabilities, and the support available from the Human Resources Division.
Disability refers to the consequences of an impairment that may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or a combination of these. Such impairments may be present from birth or develop at any stage of a person’s life.
South Africa observes National Disability Rights Awareness Month annually from 3 November to 3 December. The final day of the awareness month marks International Day for Persons with Disabilities, which is also commemorated as National Disability Rights Awareness Day in South Africa.
“The Human Resources Division offers different kinds of support to help employees with disabilities feel included, stay healthy, and perform at their best. This includes developing policies that promote inclusion, providing psychosocial support, and offering reasonable accommodation where necessary to help employees carry out their duties effectively,” said Rebotile Letsoalo, Employee Health and Wellness Programme (EHWP) Specialist.
She further explained that UNIZULU values the well-being of its employees, and the institution has established a fully functional Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to provide continuous support to staff. Training and awareness programmes also ensure that all employees -including managers, supervisors, and peers – are equipped with skills to support colleagues with disabilities effectively. The division also advocates for the adaptation of the work environment and the acquisition of assistive devices that enable employees with disabilities to render their services effectively and comfortably. This includes ensuring that necessary tools, technologies and equipment are made available to meet their needs.
One of the key reasons many employees choose not to disclose their disabilities relates to how disability is socially understood and perceived. “Disability is often understood as a negative deviation from normal human functioning or species norm. The underlying assumption is that there exists a standard of normalcy for human bodies and minds, and that departures from this norm constitute disabilities. Within this framework, disabled people are frequently perceived as less capable, less productive, and consequently less valuable to themselves and the society,” said Ntobeko Shozi, lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Applied Ethics.
He explained further that disability is commonly understood as a disadvantage – a condition that limits one’s functionality and calls into question what one can do or become. Such perceptions make it unfair to expect employees to declare their disabilities in environments where these declarations may lead to doubt, bias, or discrimination.
The Disability Awareness Month offers an opportunity to remove these barriers and improve the quality of life of people with disabilities through concrete action.
“As Human Resources Division, we remain committed to ensuring that employees with disabilities are supported, empowered, and given equal opportunities to thrive,” Letsoalo assured.
– Ntombezinhle Zwane
Pictures: Xolani Ncube
Captions
Pic 3: Rebotile Letsoalo, EHWP Specialist with Phiwayinkosi Mjadu, Disability Coordinator at UNIZULU.
Pic 4: Ntobeko Shozi, lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Applied Ethics.
